Game apparatus



April 1932- G. E. JOHNSON 1,853,901

' GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. '7, 1951 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE GLADWIN E. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS GAME APPARATUS Application filed November 7, 1931.

This invention relates to game apparatus, and particularly to scoring mechanism for embodiment in any game apparatus in which a movable indicator or plurality of movable indicators are used.

The indicators are slidably mounted on upright members, and are adapted to be propelled upwardly by manual actuation of a plurality of levers. The main object of the invention is to provide means for retaining the actuated indicators against downward movement until the operator desires to release the same. Novel forms of mechanism for holding and for releasing the indicators are part of the present invention.

The scoring mechanism of the present invention may be embodied in game apparatus such as described in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 552,014,filed July 20, 1931, and Serial No; 573,555 filed Nov. 7, 1931 or in other game apparatus employing a movable indicator or plurality of movable indicators.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view showing in front elevation scoring mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, but in altered position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the mechanism of Fig. 5 in altered position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View. taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 5, 6 and 7,respectively, but showing another modified form of the invention.

Figs. 11, 12 and 14 are also views similar 7 to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, respectively, but showing Serial No. 573,556.

still another modification. Fig. 13 is an en larged perspective view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12.

In each of the structures herein shown, an upright member or wall is indicated at 10 and a movable indicator at 11. The form of the part 10 will depend upon the particular game apparatus in which it is desired to embody the invention. The part 10 will carry on its front face the scoring indicia for in- 5-. dicating the value of the play. The game apparatus, in which the scoring mechanism is intended to be embodied, will be provided with a lever for propelling the indicator upwardly on its holding means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.' one form of means for holding and releasing the indicator 11 will be described. An upright bar 12, U-shaped in cross section, is provided with a series of teeth 13 on the free lon- 5 gitudinal edges of the bar, as best shown in Fig. 2. Located between the two sides of the U-shaped bar 12 is a thin flat bar 14 which has two longitudinally extending straight edges and is slightly narrower in width than the U-shaped bar. The bar 14 is slotted diagonally at each end, as indicated at 15. The bars 12 and 14 are mounted on an L-shaped arm 16 which is fixed to the upright 10 and provides, with the slot 15, a slot and pin connection between the bars 12 and 14. The bar 14 is provided with an operating arm or lever 17 by means of which it may be actuated, either manually or automatically. When the bar 14 is moved upwardly relatively to the U- shaped bar 12, it necessarily also moves sidewise toward the toothed edge of the bar 12 by reason of the slot and pin connection 15-16. In Fig. 4, I have shown the bar 14 in its raised position, with the straight edge of the bar 16 forming the outermost edge of the combination bar and rendering inoperative the teeth 13.

The indicator 11 consists of a spherical member bored centrally longitudinally, and 9 provided with a spring-pressed pawl 18. When the indicator has been propelled upwardly and has reached the end of its upward movement on the U-shaped bar 12, the extent of movement being determined by the force of the blow on the propelling lever, it will be held in its indicating position by the springpressed pawl 18 engaging one of the teeth 13.

When it is desired to release the indicator, the arm 17 will be actuated, thereby moving the rod 14 into the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the teeth will be inoperative and the indicator 11 will slide downwardly along the straight edges of the parts 12 and 1-4. A spring (not shown), or any other suitable means connecting the movable bar 14 to a fixed part of the apparatus, will be provided for automatically returning the bar 14 from the position shown in Fig. 4,. to its normal position, after the arm 17 has been actuated and the indicator 11 has dropped downwardly as intended.

Referring now to the modified; form of indicator holding and releasing means shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the U-shaped bar 20 is provided with straight edges and the movable bar 21 carries teeth 22 along one 1011- gitudinal edge. The bars 20 and 21 are mounted on L-shaped arms 23' which extend through the'bar 20 and through horizontally disposed, elongated slots 24 in the bar 21. Thus the bar 20 is fixed relatively to the support 10 and the bar 21 is movable. A coiled spring 25 normally draws the toothed bar 21 toward the support 10.

When the indicator 11 has been projected upwardly on the members 20 and 21, slipping over the inclined edges of the teeth 22, it will be held in indicating position at the end of its travel, by the cross pin 26 engaging the flat part of a tooth 22. WVhen it is desired to release the indicator the bar 21 is manually or or otherwise actuated, through the arm 27, to move the toothed bar inwardly of the straight edges of the U-shaped bar 20, as

shown in Fig. 6. This renders the teeth 22 on the bar 21 ineffective and permits the in dicator to slide downwardly. After the arm 27 has been actuated and the indicator 11 has dropped, the spring 25 returns the bar 21 to normal position as shown in Fig. 5.

The modification shown in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, comprises a pair of parallel, flat bars, the bar 30 being straight edged and fixed relatively to the support 10' and the bar 31 being provided with teeth 31 along one edge and movable relatively to the straight edge bar 30. The toothed bar 31 is slotted as indicated at 32 and both bars are mounted on L-shaped arms 33 fixed to the support 10. A spring 34 normally holds the bar 31 in the position shown in Fig. 8 but when the arm 36 is actuated, either manually or automatically, the toothed bar 31 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 9, with the result that the cross pin 26 of the indicator becomes disengaged from the teeth 31' and the indicator slides downwardly along the straight edge of the bar 30. When the arm 36 has been actuated and the indicator has moved downwardly, thespring 34 returns the bar 31 to normal posltion.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, two flat bars 40 and 41 are used, one being fixedly mounted on the Lshaped arms and the other being slotted at 42 and movably mounted. Both bars are provided with a plurality of teeth 43 separated from each other, longitudinally, by a straight edge portion 44.. When the teeth 43 of the bars 40-41 are opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 11, the spring-pressed pawl of the indicator 11 will seat on the upper flat surfaces of the teeth 43 and be retained in indicating position. When the bar 40 has been actuated, through its arm 45, to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 1-3, theteeth 43 will be staggered and consequently the straight edges 44 will present a straight edge over which the pawl of the indicator will slip and allow the indicator to drop downwardly. Any suitable means for returning the bar 40 to normal position after the arm 45 has been. actuated, may be used.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Game apparatus including a pair of fiat, parallel bars, one of said bars being provided with a longitudinally extending series of teeth, an indicator slidably mounted on said parallel bars, tooth-engaging means on the indicator for engaging the toothed bar and for holding the indicator against downward movement, and means for moving one of the bars relatively to the other to disengage thetooth-engaging means of the indicator from the toothed bar to release the indicator for downward movement.

2. Game apparatus including a pair of parallel bars, one of said bars being provided with a longitudinally extending series of teeth, one of said bars being slotted and movably mounted relatively to the other, an indicator slidably mounted on said parallel bars, tooth-engaging means on the indicator for engaging the toothed bar and for holding the indicator against downward movement, and means for moving one of the bars relatively to the other, whereby the toothed edge of one bar is temporarily located inwardly of the straight edge of the other bar to permit downward movement of the indicator.

3. Game apparatus including a U-shaped bar and a flat bar movably mounted between the sides of the said U-bar, one of said bars being provided with a series of teeth along one edge, an indicator slidably mounted on said bars, tooth-engaging means on the indicator for holding the indicator against down- Ward movement, and means for moving one of the bars relatively to the other to release the indicator for downward movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature, this 3rd 10 day of November, 1931.

GLADW'IN E. JOHNSON.

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